Losin' It For Lois!

Loads of news in this issue!

Lois Weber News
First up, I can officially share with you that I'm an Honorary Board Member for the Lois Weber Film Festival, happening next week!
Second up, I will be doing Red Carpet Interviews for all the filmmakers taking photos and screening films on Friday night!
Thirdly, our collective minds were BLOWN earlier this week when we made the Top Ten festivals to attend by WBUR!! I cannot even catch my breath yet. CHECK IT OUT! https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/03/10/2026-greater-boston-film-festivals-spring
(Tickets, schedule, and info is below.) It's a great festival. I hope to see you there. 😄
Dead of Winter is ALIVE!
The DOW team has solidified dates for the Postponed Dead of Winter event that was moved from February.
They even rebranded it to a camp theme! Love it.
The new dates are July 25 & 26! All current ticket holders will be honored. Mark your calendars. Can't wait!

Jaina's Awesome Film
Local filmmaker and amazing artist Jaina Cipriano is working on her next film, about a phobia of vomiting. It's a wonderful project, and really thoroughly built. The website alone is a masterclass in design and Preproduction polish.
I wanted to draw your eye to the fundraiser section so we can help her get this project made.

MARCH 18-22
BOSTON UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL
BOSTON, MA
BUFF seeks films that celebrate alternative visions and sounds, offering a platform that connects filmmakers with one another and our intelligent, engaged, and incredibly passionate audience, and encourages new ideas in celebration of work that pushes the envelope in style.
MARCH 20-22
LOIS WEBER FILM FESTIVAL
WEST NEWTON CINEMA, NEWTON, MA
Schedule:
Friday, March 20
• Opening Night Party — 5:00 PM
• Board of Directors Showcase — 6:30 PM
• The Blot (1921) with live music — 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 21
• Short Films (USA) — 5:00 PM
• Feature: Riot in Bloom — 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 22
• World Premiere: Punkie — 1:00 PM
• Massachusetts Short Films — 2:30 PM
• Women in Film Panel — 3:30 PM
• Award Ceremony — 4:30 PM
Newton Cinema has the purchase link posted already. Your choices are Day Pass, or Festival Pass.
BUY TICKETS DIRECTLY HERE: https://ticketing.uswest.veezi.com/purchase/57313?siteToken=sq9871g21qvhktp727tnes3e3g
SAVE THE DATES
APRIL 2-4
MASSACHUSETTS INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
WORCESTER, MA
https://filmfreeway.com/theMassachusettsIndependentFilmFestival
APRIL 9-12
NEW BEDFORD FILM FESTIVAL
NEW BEDFORD, MA
More details to come!
APRIL 15-19
RHODE ISLAND BLACK FILM FESTIVAL
PROVIDENCE & NEWPORT, RI
A powerful celebration of Black storytelling, culture, and creativity. Save the dates!
MAY 2
STRANGE MAYNARD FILM FESTIVAL
MAYNARD, MA
Filmmaker Erica Stockwell-Alpert is hosting 5 Hours of fun films! Come out and see some unique horror and comedy shorts made by the community!
MAY 7
LINCOLN SUDBURY STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL
SUDBURY, MA
Filmmakers Karin Trachtenberg, Julia Trueblood, and Liz Bishop are hosting a premiere for their latest short screened alongside local student shorts! Submit films before Feb 15 and Save the date!

ACTUALIZATION
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LOGLINE: When Billie, a woman tormented by a lifelong phobia of vomiting, discovers she’s pregnant, she’s thrust into surreal confrontations with her mother, brother, and childhood teddy bear, where grotesque family rituals force her to face the horror she’s avoided all her life. Jaina's team is absolutely STACKED, https://stowestorylabs.org/fiscal-agency-campaigns/jaina-cipriano
***If you have any filmmaking fundraisers you know about, let us know!*** |

CREW - (multiple)
FREELANCE VIDEOGRAPHER & CAMERA OPERATOR NEEDED
– BOSTON (MARCH 18–19)
Production Company: ATB Productions
Location: Boston, MA
Dates: March 18–19 (2 shoot days)
ATB Productions, a Baltimore-based production company, is looking for two Boston-area freelance crew members for a small video shoot.
POSITION #1 – VIDEOGRAPHER (OWNER/OPERATOR)
Looking for a videographer who can bring and operate their own Sony FX3 package.
Required Gear
- Sony FX3
- Tripod
Preferred
- Gimbal (Ronin or similar)
Rate:
$700/day (includes camera package)
POSITION #2 – CAMERA OPERATOR / PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Looking for someone comfortable operating camera and assisting with production throughout the day.
Requirements
- Experience operating mirrorless/cinema cameras
- Comfortable helping with gear, setups, and general production needs
- Camera ownership not required
Rate:
$450/day
SHOOT DETAILS
- Interview and b-roll coverage
- Corporate / documentary style shoot
- Small crew, efficient production days
TO APPLY
Please send:
- Name
- Reel or website
- Gear list (if applicable)
- Confirmation of availability for March 18–19
Send to: [email protected]
Production Company: ATB Productions
SOUND
Looking for someone who can run sound for a mobile church on Sundays from 8:30am–1:00pm.
This would involve some setting up, running, and breaking down sound each week. If you know someone (or are someone!) with sound experience who’s reliable and available on Sundays, we’d love to connect.
Email: [email protected]
CASTING
Boston Casting seeking male actors who can play football players:
Union and non-Union
Shoots in April and May in Rhode Island
Ages 18-25
Email [email protected] with name and phone, email, headshot and resume, if you are 18+ and where you are based. Use subject: Young actor football//[your name]
SPFX HMUA
Seeking Rhode Island SFX Makeup artist
Hello! I am looking to hire an SFX makeup artist in the Rhode Island area for a film shoot on March 29th at the Gilbert Stuart Museum, and April 12th at Smith's castle. We are producing an educational film on the medical treatment for sick and injured soldiers during the American Revolutionary War. Our film shoot consists of reenactment of a battle, gunshot wound treatment, and soldiers stricken with smallpox.
This is a paid gig.
More info: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTgMr3gj5_3/?img_index=1
Email: [email protected]
HMUA
Quiet Riot Productions is looking for HMU Artists available between March 17-April 3rd for a feature film shooting in Rhode Island. Not needed all days, but most. We are micro-budget, but this is a paid position.
Most HMU will be simple (maintenance and continuity).
If you are skilled in SFX makeup please also reach out.
Email [email protected]
CASTING
Project: The Final Letters
SAG short film - docudrama
Seeking SAG and non union talent
Filming in Boston, must work as a local.
$249/day
Filming April 19-25
Reed, male 20s black [willing to shave) films 3 days
Gerdh, male 20s white (willing to shave, blond hair and Danish accent) films 3 days
Nana, female 70s black, films 1 day
Little boy, male 8-10 years old, white, can speak Hebrew, films 1 day
Vincent, male 14-17 years old, black,, films 1 day
Email [email protected] with Subject "The Final Letters"
CASTING
Project name: Beats and Batters
Type: short film
Compensation: $100/day per role
Production Company: Dreaming Giant Media (yay, Jimmy!)
Director: Jean-Marie Neave
Date: 2 days in mid-late May 2026 (exact days TBD)
Duration: 10-12 hours
Location: MA (exact locations TBD)
Status (union/non union): non-union
Logline: Siobhan, a champion Irish dancer, struggles between her dreams and her injuries that set her back.
Role requirements:
- Young Siobhan: female, 11-13 years old, blue eyes, dirty blonde or brown hair. Dancing experience not required. (2 days of work).
- Mom: female, 35-55 years old (1 day of work)
- Dance Teacher: any gender, 35-55 years old (1 day of work)
Please submit headshots, reel, and résumé to: [email protected]
P.A. Needed
CREW CALL: PAs FOR DELUXE OCEAN VIEW
Hi all! We’re searching for PAs for an upcoming feature shoot in the Cape Cod area. Filming dates are March 15th - April 12th, 2026. Rate is $15/hr for 12 hr days. See below for more information about the film:
DELUXE OCEAN VIEW
Director: Laurence Vannicelli
Writer: Ryan Powers
Producers: Simona Paparelli Wolf (Thunderbolts*, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Widow), Jason Stamey (WandaVision, Avengers: Endgame, The Nice Guys), Ryan Powers, Ellyn Vander Wyden
DP: Andrew Heubscher
SFX: Jeremy Selenfriend (Alien, Smile 1 & 2)
If interested and available, please send your resume to [[email protected]]
CASTING
CASTING CALL by Giro Studio – PAID | EDUCATIONAL VIDEO SHOOT | CAMBRIDGE, MA
Looking for 3 actors for a series of short educational training videos being filmed at a professional studio in Cambridge, MA. These videos are designed for clinician training and will involve scripted dialogue. There are 2 videos, scripted to be ~10-15 minutes each. Each actor would only be responsible for one of the 2 videos. One video needs 2 actors.
Acting experience is helpful but NOT required — we welcome amateur and non-union actors who are comfortable on camera and able to follow a script.
Project Details
- Shoot Dates: April 13th or 14th, 2026
- Time Commitment: Approximately ~4 hours (half day)
- Compensation: PAID, pay will be shared upon inquiry. Meals and travel expenses not included. Non-union.
Roles Needed
1. Mrs. Morris
- African American woman
- Appears age 70–75
- Portrays a participant with mild cognitive impairment
- Warm, thoughtful, expressive
2. Mr. Khan
- South Asian man
- Appears age 75–80
- Portrays a research participant
- Calm, reflective presence
3. Mrs. Malik (Caregiver / Daughter)
- South Asian woman
- Appears age 40–45
- Portrays daughter and legal authorized representative
- Supportive, engaged, communicative
How to Submit
Please email [email protected] with:
- Your name
- Which role(s) you are interested in
- A recent photo (phone photos are totally fine)
- A brief note about any on-camera or acting experience (optional)
**As always, if you know of any paid local gigs, reply to this email and I’ll share with the rest of community!**
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THANK YOU!
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